#captain valor

[smashpages]

Ghost Fox leaps back into action in ‘World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics’ #28

Check out an exclusive preview of two new stories coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

(cover by Dan Parent)

[le-amewzing]

Doubtful

Still on a Cloneling kick, yo. B3 *Note: This is set before s1e18, "No Escape."

Fic: "Doubtful" [FFN] [AO3]

Pairings/Characters: pre?Starling/Jake's Evil Clone, Captain Valor, & some OC heroes

Rating: K+

Words: ~6,090

Additional info: romance, angst, friendship, 3rd person POV

Summary: Starling thinks it's a useless endeavor, questioning the "prisoner" the League has in holding, because there's nothing bonding them. But the League's impatience could prove otherwise….

      Starling is glad. Not ecstatic or overjoyed…all right, maybe even "glad" is pushing it. But she's relieved, nevertheless, once she brings in Jake's clone and the League of Heroes accepts her back into their ranks.

      This ugly chapter of betrayal is closed and behind her. She can get back to life as it's supposed to be.

      …or, that's what she tells herself, at first. After bringing the clone in, Starling knows some changes have to be made. Valor and the other heroes ask her to renew her dedication to the League, but, at the same time, Starling makes a promise to herself, to temper her thoughts of Jake and of the Maddens.

      After all, the last thing she needs is for the League to suspect her again and to go digging things up. Or worse, to learn the truth about Jake's clone.

      But those first few days back in Centropolis, back at the League, are surprisingly quiet. The days roll into a week, and several more days pass without consequence. Then Captain Valor summons her to his office before the end of her second week back.

      Valor's as well-rested as ever, and he's comfy behind a cherry wood desk almost as red as his outfit. He smiles when Starling enters and motions for her to near, since he doesn't keep chairs on the other side for guests. "Starling, good to see you. You're well, I take it?"

      "I'm good, thank you," she replies, hands folded politely behind her back. Truth be told, the pose is partially out of politeness, partially to keep her fidgeting under control. She still doesn't know what to make of him after he issued the Jake-or-banishment ultimatum. Starling once thought she knew Valor, she's always looked up to him, but now…

      He sits up straight in his comfy, leather-backed chair and temples his fingers atop his desk. "That's good." Valor takes a breath and, still smiling, adds, "Look, Starling, I'm going to cut to the chase. The League's decided—"

      She internally flinches. A part of her thinks the "League" hasn't decided anything, because she's part of the League and hasn't been included in any decision since her return. But she stills her tongue, worried about what's to come.

      "—that it's dissatisfied with just holding on to the villain Chaos."

      Starling blinks. Her mind goes blank. …but…they're heroes…right? "What do you mean?" she asks. She's never seen or heard of them doing anything evil and she's not about to partake in any such plan.

      He cocks his head to the right in a fatherly manner. "Don't worry, Starling. We know you're fond of him."

      She frowns. But it's useless to sell them on the lie that she's suddenly fallen out of love with Jake.

      Valor waves his hand, as if anyone falls in love with a villain just as a person has a fondness for a clear, blue sky. "Starling, you don't have anything else to worry about. In fact, you'd be a great help right about now. We'd like for you to question him about his family's plans. This way, we can search for other ways to bring in Havoc and the rest."

      Her frown deepens to a grimace. Again, she has to remind herself that they're the heroes…but she disagrees with Valor's proposed tactic. She's seen the Maddens. She knows they're, oddly, doing their best to live normal lives. They're trying to walk the straight path, for real.

      Valor's eyes bore holes into her. His smile seems far less fatherly or friendly the longer he waits for her reply.

      Starling realizes Valor and the other heroes won't care, even if she explains the Maddens to them. But she's got to buy herself, to buy Jake and his family, time. And so she nods.

      "Good girl. I always knew you'd make the right decision, Starling."

      And so her quiet, normal days at League headquarters come to an end.

      Her first visit to the clone's holding cell takes place that same afternoon, an hour after Valor summons her.

      Starling doesn't really know what to make of the holding cells. She doesn't come here often except to throw the occasional villain inside. Never has she had to pay anyone a visit before, so it's a new experience, waiting outside the bolted door for the locks to slide free and for the door to open. She steps inside and the door closes behind her.

      …somehow, the clean lines of the white-and-silver halls of the League look cold and cruel in here, a ten-by-ten room that makes her feel claustrophobic. As in other cells, the ceiling is one large, white light, and the only furniture in here is a simple cot on a metal frame bolted to the floor. There's a bathroom/shower combo somewhere in the back, but that's always tucked away by a panel in the wall, produced upon request so prisoners can't abuse the facilities.

      She clears her throat to announce herself, since the clone has his back towards her. "Hello," she says.

      The clone, sitting on one edge of the cot, glances her way and raises his eyebrows at her. It's eerie, like having Jake look down on her from across the room. "You again. Thought you threw me away and tossed the key."

      Starling frowns (good grief, how often will she do that these days?). "I came to talk," she tells him.

      "You might've, but I don't feel like it."

      Now she sighs. "Have you had any company since I brought you here?"

      He grunts.

      She takes that as a "no." She's heard that he barely eats the food they deliver, too, but he's not interacted with the low-level heroes who make the deliveries either. "You might not like me, but I'm a familiar face. That's gotta stand for something."

      The clone half turns her way. His expression is caught somewhere between glare and disinterest. "It might for someone who cares or needs people. Such as your J—"

      Starling narrows her eyes and takes a step forward without thinking. "I get your point," she grinds out.

      He smirks, seeing her riled up. It…really is strange, seeing that face look at her with anything but affection.

      "I'll be straight with you," Starling mumbles, figuring this is the only way to keep their conversation going. "The League of Heroes wants me to talk to you in the hopes that you'll give up something about—your family." She falters, because they're not his family, but they've got to keep up the pretense.

      And he catches on. He holds her gaze for a heartbeat before facing the wall once more. "Then they should know I have nothing to say."

      Her shoulders sag, and Starling fingers the edge of her cape. Today was a good, solid first effort, and she can read in the way he squares his shoulders that he's done talking for the day. So she takes her leave, pondering how next time might go.

      She doesn't have long to wonder.

      Starling has a photoshoot the next day (because, of course, the public isn't privy to her villain-loving ways, so she's still the darling of their eye), and she can't make time to see the clone between hair, makeup, and wardrobe. She settles for trying again the day after that.

      The clone behaves much the same as the first time, barely turning towards her and reacting to her words as little as possible. It still unnerves her to see him smirk or, worse, sneer, but at least he hasn't shut down on her completely.

      And, as long as he keeps reacting to her, Starling sees an opening. Not that she wants to go along with Valor's plan, but…she wouldn't mind having someone to talk to in this building. Sure, the clone likely is plotting against her, but she can count on that, instead of constantly second-guessing herself when it comes to the people she's supposed to believe are her allies, her comrades.

      That perspective alone convinces Starling to switch tactics. So what about the League's satisfaction or lack thereof? So what about Captain Valor's and the others' plan and hopes to round up the rest of this villain family? The League wants a tool.

      Starling's goal is different. Starling wants…a friend, she guesses.

      Not that befriending Jake's clone is ideal. Even when she can visit him for consecutive days and tries to strike up some small talk, the clone—once foolish enough to fall for the deceit that brought him in—is on high alert and not biting except to get in a snicker here and there. Nothing's going to change with this version of Jake who wants to be a villain, who wants to be Chaos.

      …five days of one-sided small talk that makes her feel as though her skills are lacking later, and Starling doubts that being friends isn't on the table either.

      "Well, I managed to squeak out of my commercial shoot early this morning," she says when she arrives at lunchtime at the start of the next week. Starling glances at the food tray on the floor and nudges it with the toe of her boot towards the clone.

      The only change over the past few days has been him facing her…sort of. These days, he sits on his cot, half turned towards her, with one leg tucked under him in a relaxed, unthreatened manner. Today, he completes the uninterested vibe by resting his cheek against his propped-up fist. "Yay," the clone says with flat affect.

      Starling quirks an eyebrow at him for the mockery. "Hey, you would've, too, if you knew being there would've eaten up your entire day."

      He scoffs. "Thought you enjoyed all these things you do, for the fans." The last bit he says with a sassy little shake of his head to emphasize.

      The emphasis as well as his callout make Starling bristle, and her face warms. She straightens up from leaning casually against the inside of his cell door and shoots him a glare. "That's not—!" Starling takes a breath. "I do love my fans, and I'll do plenty for them."

      The clone lifts his head. That fist unfurls, and he strokes his chin. "Being a hero not all it's cracked up to be, then?"

      Her face falls, even though her mind's eye flashes to Valor's request. "Heroes exist for the good of the people, whatever that may be," Starling ultimately replies.

      Jake's clone raises one lone eyebrow, which says it all: You didn't answer the question.

      Starling purses her lips: And I won't anytime soon.

      He shrugs and waves her off then. "Well, you've yakked at me for the day." He rolls his shoulders and runs a hand through his hair (a shade darker than the actual Jake's) but doesn't move to grab his lunch. "Until tomorrow, then."

      She frowns and wants to point out that this could hardly be called a chat (or even yakking, for that matter), and she wants to bug him about eating like a regular human (the boy's got to put on a better act or somebody's going to catch on). But her brain catches up with his words after a three-second delay.

      "Until tomorrow."

      And she has to stifle a grin, because… Either he's resigned to Starling's visits by now or (and it's a big "or") perhaps he's…looking forward, in his own way, to seeing her, too.

      Starling thinks about that "Until tomorrow" that night, during her patrol; his words breeze through her mind the way the night air stirs her ringlets on a rather uneventful night out hovering above the defenseless masses. The words stay on her mind the next morning, too, and through their next several visits. So Starling pricks up her ears from now on.

      The clone doesn't always grumble "Until tomorrow" when signaling the end of their visit. Sometimes it's "Tomorrow, then" or, these last couple days, it's been "Later, then." He still smirks a lot, and he mocks her a lot, but—

      He faces her fully now, person to person. Er, clone to person. But the clone sits on the edge of his cot every day now, facing the door, almost as if he waits for Starling to turn up.

      She hopes her surprise doesn't show on her face, more so when he's the one to initiate the day's interaction.

      "So," the clone huffs with his arms crossed in front of his chest, "what is it today?" His head lolls to the left, unimpressed. "Another ad campaign? No, wait, don't tell me—today was your autograph signing."

      He…remembered? Further baffled, Starling nods and gives him a starlet's casual shrug. "It's called a 'meet-and-greet,' actually. And that's this evening." She can't help it. Her lips curve up in a tiny smile.

      The clone purses his—but he doesn't frown. He does jerk his chin at her, however, as if motioning her to chat away.

      And she wants to, she does. But Starling's also aware that it's been nearly two weeks since Valor assigned her this task. Not only has she not reported back to him, but Captain Valor weirdly hasn't asked for any updates yet. The lack of interest has her on edge, but the whole situation has her curiosity piqued, too. Starling licks her lips and takes a couple steps into the cell, choosing not to linger by the door. "May I ask you something?"

      He grimaces. It's strange… When he frowns, he looks just like Jake when Jake's feeling down. But when he grimaces, he looks like another person, someone wary and calculating. His eyes, that jawline, the little swish in his hair—he might share all of that with Jake, but his mannerisms remind Starling less and less of the boy she holds close in her heart, the more time she spends with the clone.

      Still, Starling finds herself wondering more what else makes clone and original so distinct, and she fiddles with the edge of her cape as she waits for his response.

      Eventually, the clone glances at the floor before returning his eyes to her face. Then he nods.

      Starling swallows a tiny lump in her throat. "Did you— Did you ever get along with—them?" Again with the pause, a reminder that the Maddens are family but not his.

      The clone scoffs. "…Havoc's the only one that comes close to being dastardly, rotten to the core." His arms slip free, and he leans back on the cot. "But they're not the same. They're not worth my time anymore."

      "But—" Starling furrows her brow. "Villains…are villains."

      "And quality's an issue there just as it's an issue here," he quips with a sneer. Without warning, he gets to his feet and takes two steps forward.

      Instinctively, Starling takes two steps back, and her heart races, hammering against her ribcage.

      The clone pauses and slips his hands into the pockets of his orange jumpsuit. He studies the frightened hero before him for a few seconds and then continues, "You're either strong enough to accept the 'Chaos' moniker or the like or you ditch what you can't handle. It's really that simple."

      The crease between her eyebrows deepens as she tries to make sense of his remarks. "I'm not sure I—"

      "I simply embraced the chaos."

      Oh. Ohh. He embraced the Chaos. Starling's eyes widen when they meet his as things click into place.

      All this time, she's thought of him as "the clone" or "Jake's clone." Jake and the others kept referring to him as "Bad Jake," even.

      But the clone's telling her that he does have a name, that he's taken for himself the one Jake's doing everything to shake: The clone refers to himself as "Chaos."

      And…since her Jake is doing everything to become a good person…Starling thinks she can accept this new fact wholeheartedly, to better keep these two separate. Jake and Chaos, no longer one and the same.

      It helps a lot with the distinction, but it also gives Starling pause, because Jake Madden has a family, one the heroes are out to get. But Chaos? Chaos has no one. There's no use in asking anything about the Maddens, she knew, but now she wonders if the distinction ever gives Chaos a pause for the same reasons…

      "Hey."

      She blinks and snaps out of her thoughts. "Hm?"

      With his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hang loose; if not for their outfits, Starling wonders whether they might look like two peers hanging out. "I really have nothing to offer you about them." Chaos pauses and glances at one of the anklets strapped to him to dampen his powers. "Except maybe a gripe or two about J—just that guy," he says, correcting himself.

      She's grateful for the cover, but Starling gets that, by now, Chaos has grown accustomed to existing, even though Kraniac created him not too long ago. Hiding his existence benefits everyone. Nevertheless, she musters half a smile for him, glad he's finally opening up to her. "I told you a familiar face had to stand for something," she gently teases with a flourish to her masked countenance.

      To her surprise, Chaos snickers (or is it a chuckle? hmm) and smirks. "I think that's all for today, hero."

      "Not the last of me you'll see, villain," she retorts with a grin. This is the lightest she's felt in weeks. Weird.

      Chaos rolls his eyes and walks back to his cot. "Yeah, yeah… Tomorrow, then," he says.

      "Tomorrow, then," Starling echoes, and she tips her head to him upon exit, ignoring how it sounds as though they've made a promise.

      …she does start to think of it as a promise, though, as the days pass and her skin crawls.

      It feels as though the hallways have eyes, everywhere she goes, never there when she turns to catch a glimpse.

      Under normal circumstances, Starling would go to Captain Valor, or to Lumina or to Lady Nox, mentors who Starling always trusted. But that was before Jake Madden. That was before she brought a clone into custody.

      Instead, Starling passes by Valor and Lumina talking in undertones in the mess hall. Lumina raises her bejeweled head to say hello, but Valor blocks her from view, making sure to catch Starling's eye. There's no hint of that paternal friendliness from before. If anything, he's disappointed, wants his status update yesterday, or both.

      Starling hastens from the mess hall, scurrying to the holding cells and impatiently tapping her foot outside Chaos' door as the bolts slide free. Only inside, with the door shut behind her, do her nerves calm and that crawling sensation dissipate.

      Somehow, Chaos' cell is the safest place to be at the League of Heroes. Or…no, not safest. But most comfortable, without a doubt.

      "Hey, Chaos," she finally says, pulling her eyes from the floor. She halts—and her cheeks puff up with suppressed laughter.

      He all but drops his food tray like a hot coal onto the cot. So, he will eat when he feels like it. "You're interrupting my lunch," he says with a partially full mouth.

      Starling narrows her eyes at the lack of manners. Then again… She narrows her eyes at his door, too. No manners versus constant surveillance and suspicion? It's a no-brainer for her. Starling comes inside a bit more and leans against the wall opposite him, sliding down until she sits on the floor. "Yes, well, lunchtime is better spent with company, isn't it?"

      "Shouldn't you be eating, and elsewhere?"

      Her stomach sours at the memory of Valor and Lumina just now, so Starling shakes her head. "I'm all set."

      "Suit yourself." He waits several seconds, but then Chaos caves and eats more of the gruel on his tray. The oddball pics at the half sandwich, eating the crust and not the main part. When too much quiet passes, he rolls his eyes and tosses her the sandwich innards. "You look sick. Be sick somewhere else, hero."

      Starling frowns and looks at the sandwich (peanut butter and jelly—tried and true), but her stomach's too iffy to take a bite. "I'm not sick. I…" Hmm. Well, he did open up a bit about his thoughts on the Maddens. And himself, too. So Starling opts for some of her own truth: "It's my reason for being here."

      Chaos pokes the other items on the tray with his spork before sliding it on the floor across the room. The tray stops half a foot away from clattering into the door. Then his eyes are back on her.

      "I…don't interrogate people."

      "Clearly."

      She pouts at him, tears off a tiny nub of bread, and throws the debris at him, which makes him snicker. "I told you they want me to have you spill your guts to me. And I—I don't like that." Huh. It feels…good, to tell someone, finally, her honest opinion about her assignment.

      Chaos brushes crumbs from his chest, but his snickers don't cease. "Well, what did you expect? You heroes aren't all good, you know."

      That catches her off-guard. She's caught herself questioning heroes' inherent goodness from the moment Captain Valor asked this task of her. Hearing Chaos voice her thoughts to her, even in his blunt manner, is jarring.

      He shakes his head. "In a world where the villains aren't very bad and the heroes aren't all good—well, kinda makes you wonder who's left, doesn't it?"

      Starling picks at the sandwich, mulling his comment over. It doesn't sound like his normal dig at Jake turning good or a prod at her for being a hero… It really does sound just like food for thought, about the only food she can handle in that moment.

      Silence settles between them the longer she dwells on his notion. Eventually, Chaos interrupts the quiet with a large sigh. "Starling."

      Her eyes are glued to the dismantled sandwich. It takes a second to refocus on him.

      Their eyes meet, and he pauses, the straight line of his lips curving downward in the slightest frown. His lips part, but he says nothing…no, he changes his mind. "Never mind," Chaos mumbles, averting his eyes.

      Starling's shoulders sink, and disappointment sprouts in her chest. She has half a mind to call it an early day…but the thought of heading back out into the watchful League corridors chills her, so Starling turns to more banal topics, like getting her cape repaired or which of her new products will be ready for the holiday shopping season, topics that will calm her down and make Chaos ignore her chatter if not tell her outright to shut up.

      (Except…today's different, because Chaos sits there and listens without complaint. So strange, this one.)

      Visit after visit, Starling finally admits to herself that the only place she feels comfortable or even welcome anymore around the League is Chaos' holding cell. She questions why, usually when they're together, as if his presence offers any clues.

      Perhaps it's because he's in on the secret. That's the first thing that comes to mind when Starling noticed her panicky breathing calms when she comes here recently… It helps, too, that she and Chaos have established little tricks and codes for when the Maddens do come up in conversation. She always pauses before emphasizing the family; he usually uses some turn of phrase to work "chaos" into the conversation in a manner that sounds as though he's oddly talking about himself in the third person… But, this way, they keep their secret intact.

      Perhaps it's because he's got Jake's face. Starling kicks herself a lot for this notion, because she misses Jake sorely…but it's both nice and painful to have to look at Chaos on an almost daily basis. If she catches a rare, neutral expression on him, then she can pretend for a second that it's her Jake here with her (which, while not great, either, still makes her heart flutter, just at the thought of being close to him again). But she's counting more and more differences between them, the more they hang out, despite how well Chaos and Jake might twin. Jake's smiles make him softer all around, but Chaos' constant switches between grump and gloating highlight his edges. Not to mention the light in here and his pickiness over the food (he's implied a clone doesn't really need to eat) don't do much for his complexion or weight, so he carries more shadows, too.

      And yet…those edges and shadows don't scare her. Sure, Starling brought him in once already, so she has little to fear on that front, but perhaps the real reason why she feels comfy here, around him, is that she's got his intentions figured out. There's plenty more to learn about Chaos, who still antagonizes her more than properly communicates with her, but Starling doesn't believe there's anything to fear about him. Not to mention he can actually be amusing on the rare occasion when he isn't being infuriating. Case in point—

      "You think you tricked me so easily, but I've done some decent tricking myself," Chaos says one afternoon. He strolls around the perimeter of his room.

      Starling strolls with him, two steps behind and to the side. She shakes her head. "I wonder if I'll regret asking, but: What 'trick' are you confessing to now?"

      Chaos grins (not a smirk, for once) at her over his shoulder. "Surge and Kraniac. A, ah, certain toy was left out, and I shrank them down for a bit."

      Her eyes widen. The idea of miniature villains is…almost cute? She can't help but grin, too. "Well, tiny villains would make my job a lot easier���," Starling admits, though she sends a mental apology to Jake for thinking perhaps his parents ought to stay pocket-sized.

      Chaos pauses and waits for Starling to catch up beside him. He cocks his head her way. "It's not so different, hero thinking and villain thinking," he points out.

      And there comes the infuriating part, in the form of his comparison. But where Starling might've glared and stomped away ages ago, she glares up at him now and smacks him in the shoulder for pouring salt in her wound. Really, she gets nowhere with this boy…!

      Starling's preoccupation with Chaos is replaced with her concerns about Valor's silence the next morning when she finds a missive in her locker:

Starling—

      See me at 10A.M. sharp, my office.

      Yours in justice,

      Captain Valor

      The sourness in her stomach returns, but Starling has no valid excuse to delay the meeting or outright skip it. She wishes the meeting at least were set for the end of the day, so she has time to see Chaos…

      But no. Just as with Jake and the Maddens before him, she sets aside all her thoughts of Chaos, especially recent memories. She can't give away the fact that she's as good as befriended yet another villain.

      The next two hours drag on, and the tension reminds Starling of being on the run not too long ago. All eyes are on her, but at least the other heroes are obvious about it this time and it's not just some sensation that's upping her anxiety and frying her nerves.

      When ten o'clock rolls around, Starling stands right outside Valor's door to knock at the exact moment the hour turns.

      "Come in," Valor answers from inside.

      Starling does as instructed. But now it's not just Valor himself but his office that lacks familiarity. The leather chair, the expensive desk, the red velvet on the walls—none of this luxury makes sense to her anymore for the leader of heroes who put the public first and themselves last. But, yet again, Starling keeps this opinion to herself and stands at attention before his desk.

      Captain Valor's smile isn't toothy today. In fact, he barely musters one at all as he leans back in his chair. "Starling, Starling, Starling…"

      "Sir?"

      He sighs. "I've an update for you."

      She blinks. Shouldn't she be updating him? "You do?"

      Valor nods and leans forward, hunched over his desk. "The League's attitude has changed."

      She should've figured.

      "We want something to show for your efforts, Starling."

      She furrows her brow. "Captain Valor, I'm—"

      "I know. I've seen the visitor's logs. And the security footage from the holding cell corridors. I know you've gone as often as possible." The remaining kindness ebbs from his posture. "But, Starling, we want some real, actionable information or else."

      The hands on the antique clock hanging on the wall to her right echo in the room, the sounds bouncing around in her head.

      Or else.

      Heroes or villains—no one says "or else" without meaning it.

      And Starling fears that it'll be worse than just losing her gear this time.

      She stares, unable to hide her fright when she meets Valor's eyes.

      But he tears his gaze away nonchalantly, and that promptly ends the conversation.

      She skips meeting Chaos that same day. It's one thing to don a façade for her fans—that's half the gig, playing the hero—but she hasn't figured out how to handle this twist. She needs time to think.

      Even when her boots lead her down the familiar path to a certain, bolted door the following day, still Starling's mind churns with a million ideas. Have Chaos confess the truth? No, that puts everyone in jeopardy… Have Chaos work with her to make up some feasible lies about the Maddens? Maybe, but that'll only buy more time, because the heroes will act on the info sooner rather than later…

      The gears in her head whir, rotating so fast that she wishes she had enough stamina and strength to pause time indefinitely while she sorts this out. Instead, her thought processes come to a halt when she steps inside Chaos' cell and sees his familiar smirk.

      "Hey," he says, sitting on his cot with his elbows on his knees, all cocky as he gets to his feet and meets her partway. His smirk falls, though, and he quirks an eyebrow when she doesn't immediately respond. "Star?"

      "Oh, uh. Hey." She briefly holds her head, willing herself to snap out of this daze. Her eyes downward, she spies his half-eaten food. "…you ate the entire sandwich today."

      Chaos shrugs. "Tried something new. Wasn't that great. But prison gets a little boring at some point."

      His direct, dark humor brings a tiny smile to her lips, and Starling finally takes a breath…maybe releasing the one she's been holding since yesterday.

      But her relief doesn't last long when footsteps in the hallway draw near, three sets. She and Chaos turn when they stop outside his door, and the bolts slid free once more. The door opens, and in walk Captain Valor and two other heroes barely older than Starling herself, Jacque Frost and Kilometer.

      Starling openly frowns at Valor. "Sir, what is—?"

      "—the meaning of this?" he finishes. He gestures for Frost and Kilometer to flank Starling and Chaos. "You're a smart girl, Starling. I thought you would've grasped this right away." He nods, as though he's resigned to this duplicity because she forced his hand. "I thought about threatening you sooner, but then it came to me: If this rabid young villain who hates everyone else except his family and the hero he loves learned of the threat against you, then maybe I'd finally see results."

      The way these other heroes whom she barely knows linger so near sets Starling on edge. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpses Chaos' hardened expression; he's not happy either. But she still has enough time to diffuse this situation, especially because it doesn't make sense, not without the real Jake Madden here. So Starling slaps on a commercial, winning smile and shakes her head. "Sir, that might've been the case, ages ago. But I come here and talk his ear off. Chaos here cares nothing for me."

      And that's the truth. After all, he's a clone. It's not as if Kraniac could've made him with feelings and morals, same as her and Jake and (she still hoped) Valor.

      Starling looks up at Chaos even, to prove her point, because she knows his mannerisms and expects him to shrug this off. Jake Madden has her heart, but Chaos could never care for her, even if he gets on passably with Starling.

      Yet…Chaos' glare could slice stone and steel, not to mention Valor, given the intensity of it, aimed at the crimson hero. "Do not," he growls at Valor, "hurt Starling." And, though he's got bracelets that match the anklets to help dampen his powers, his fists curl at his sides.

      The gears in Starling's brain churn anew but with different questions to solve now, because—

      Jake Madden has her heart.

      But Chaos could never care for her…right?

      Valor's famous smile is a dark smirk today as he throws up two fingers, throwing them left and right, signaling Jacque Frost and Kilometer to grab hold of Starling. They pull her away from Chaos, but Valor offers the clone a deal. "If you don't want to see her hurt, then tell us everything about your family and what they're getting up to."

      His knuckles blanch, his fists are so tight. But Chaos grits his teeth. "I don't know anything," he says truthfully.

      If only Starling could back up him without jeopardizing them all (if only she might be believed if she told the truth)!

      Valor shakes his head. "We have our ways of making you talk, Chaos."

      Starling's stomach sinks. Heroes don't make that threat.

      Chaos scowls at the lead hero. "I'd like to see you try."

      With a sigh, Valor holds a hand out, and the younger heroes shove Starling into his grasp, freeing them up to have a go at Chaos. And all Starling can do is muffle her panic and learn the depth of Jacque Frost's ice powers and Kilometer's super speed.

      The interior of a holding cell is not meant for showdowns. But Chaos holds his own against every chunk of ice Frost throws at him, smashing through each chilly blast left and right. Frost's powers must come from an outside source, because each blast depletes his coloring and strength until he can no longer fight, and Chaos ignores him for the speedster.

      Kilometer is a trickier opponent. His movements are too fast; he's barely more than a purple blur to Starling's eyes, but Valor keeps her hands locked apart behind her back, in case she wishes to aid Chaos with a time-freezing spell. And she does want to help, especially when Kilometer closes in on Chaos and gets several sharp jabs in at his middle.

      Chaos crumples, bending over in pain. But he appears to use his pain to fuel his fury, because he tosses the mattress from the cot and yanks the frame up free from its bolts, almost as if he wears no power dampeners at all. Then he swings the frame around in a wide arc, and Kilometer can't dodge the hit in the ten-by-ten space. He's out like a light, for the night and possibly for the week.

      With both heroes down, Chaos drops the cot frame and stares Valor down. Chaos holds his middle tenderly, but he's still on both feet, just breathing somewhat raggedly.

      Starling's eyes dart from him to the frame and back. The revelation that the power dampeners are essentially useless on him… Does that give him away? Or will the heroes just believe they underestimated Jake Madden instead? She peeks up at Valor.

      Valor clenches his teeth. His grip tightens, painfully enough to make Starling's eyes water. "We'll consider this a draw…for now."

      Chaos snarls at him.

      "But keep in mind: I have what you hold dear. Until next time, Chaos."

      Jacque Frost scoots around Chaos carefully and pries Kilometer from the floor, so they limp out of the holding cell on the former's ability alone. Valor follows, dragging Starling along with him.

      But Starling looks back before the door swings shut, and she witnesses Chaos' fury as he stares at the floor with trembling fists. Her heart thuds in her chest, and a new mix of emotions sprouts in her chest.

      She and the other heroes barely make it to the end of the hallway when the deafening BOOM of Chaos' super-powered punch hits the inside of his cell door. But the din ends there, for the door works in the way the dampeners do not against Chaos, and it holds.

WELL. Compared to my previous Clonelings, which were more like musings/clearing my throat, this dove deeper into their potential bond…and also how being a hero can be just as gray an area as being a villain. *eyeing Valor and his dubious tactics* I love little inclusions/hints of growing closeness/fondness, so that was fun to include here. But I don't think Starling should've been so surprised by Chaos caring for her in some form, and perhaps, deep down, she realizes this. But, hmm, where to go now… Idk if I'd do a sequel in particular to this one (esp since "Breaking Point" is kinda like my ideal for their future, *lol*), but I'm deffo still thinking lots about them. Anywho! Everything's just speculative until we have s2 anyway. XD And ofc all non-familiar names are OCs; mildly tempted to draw Lumina, Jacque Frost, and Kilometer, if not make a post about them and Lady Nox. Would totally use them again. :3c

Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave an anon/unsigned review via the FFN link or comment via the AO3 link at the top of the post, especially if you enjoyed this!

~mew

[chronivore]

Captain Valor

[secretly-a-trekkie]

EVERY TIME I DRAW REX HE LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKE GEKKO AND IDK WHY OR HOW TO FIX ITR BUT HERE TAKE HIM

[bleedingcoffee42]

From Fierce Valor, Sparky gets life ruined by officers at the club.

[pastlivesandpurplepuppets]

There is one often told tale—perhaps a bit suspect—in which Speirs informed a frightened paratrooper somewhere in France that fear vanishes if you simply consider yourself already dead. I never used that kind of line during my own experience as a combat leader, but I can think of several occasions when I wish I had. To me, it’s less the mark of a doomed fatalist and more the philosophy of a man who understands that death in combat is always just a heartbeat away. Worrying about being killed is a distraction from the mission at hand.

~ Captain Dale Dye, United States Marine Corps

[i-love-you-all]

PSA!!!! This is a scam on AO3!!

This is a scam!!! Got this message last night and then the reply early this morning. I’ve looked around Reddit and it seems like there are ppl (and sometimes bots) who will comment under your fic saying they’re artists and that they want to draw your characters or something. They will charge money!

This person was signed in but this was their first comment and they had a really generic bio w no other promo to another site or anything. And see how they don’t even name any characters or any details from the actual story? Also, if they were a fan artist they should be able to name one part they like about your story that they specifically want to use!

I did blur out the name on the slightest off chance that they are a real person and just have never interacted in fandom before. When I get to my laptop I will be replying to decline and let them know that I’m not looking for a commission, and rhat this is fanfic which means I don’t own the characters, then deleting the thread.

Stay safe out there guys!!!

[dcdreamblog]

What can you tell me about the pirate superheroes? Guys like the black pirates, captain fear, swordfish and barracuda?

Well the first thing I can tell you is that you're kind of talking about two different time periods. Jon Valor AKA the Black Pirate was active in the 16th century and was more what we would call a privateer than a true pirate.

He was commissioned by the English crown to rob, plunder and scuttle Spanish shipping in the Atlantic but because of the nature of Spanish sailors at the time and Valor's own personal sense of honor he did end up putting down a lot of truly despicable slavers and conquistador-ish men

The other 3 you mentioned, Captain Fear, Swordfish and Barracuda were all active in the mid 18th century much more within what we would call the Golden Age of Piracy.

(Fear's illustration in an 1866 updated edition of A General History of the Pyrates)

Fear's history is very roughly sketched, what we know about him is that he was a Carib (a people group we now call the Kalinago) on an island in the Spanish Carribean enslaved by Spanish sailors who led a native mutiny aboard said slave ship. Making a vow to "treat the Spaniards as I was treated by them"

Fear was a scourge on Spanish shipping, especially Spanish slave shipping for years before teaming up with an English privateer named Baron Hemlocke. The two men led an exceptionally bloody raid on the Spanish town of San Bartolemo (near modern day La Ceiba in Honduras)

Something led to a breakdown in their partnership directly afterward as Captain Fear began to chase Hemlocke out into open water where neither man was ever seen or heard from again

Swordfish and Barracuda we know frighteningly little about. Save that from description of their activities in the waters of what is now Costa Rica its safe to say they were some kind of metahuman. They too vanished without a trace during a confrontation with the pirate "god" X'ult.

[cythanadiel]

couple of things i can share from my (still in progress) portfolio

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////

[swiftyangx12]

“I Can Do This All Day…”|Valorant x Marvel #2

[Synopsis]: A second recruit recently joined the Valorant Protocol and they’re ready to fight for their comrades.

[Gender Neutral!VP agent]

[(A/N)]: 🇺🇸Happy Independence Day and Happy Birthday, Steve Rogers!🎂

Star spangled man with a plan!

Well, more like one person who didn’t plan to be in an experiment for more over a few decades.

Back in the 70s, Kingdom had volunteers to test on hoping that Radianite would be used more than a power source.

They were experimenting if they can use it as a key to immortality. Which is obviously a bad idea.

In the middle of the process with volunteers being in a cryogenic sleep state with influence of Radianite, something happened.

A power malfunction cut off some chambers holding the volunteers, resulting all but one to become deceased.

The only survivor in the incident was [Y/N] [L/N], in a deep slumber.

After decades passed, around 2040s, they suddenly wake up and break out of their containment with little effort due to developing some side effects from the Radianite.

Scientists around that time they broke out start testing how they’re still alive and having to manifest Radiant type abilities.

Then fast forward, they joined The Valorant Protocol.

[Valorant Protocol HQ]

[Agent Free’s new quarters]

Free: *Anxiously looks around their new space*

Brimstone: I know this is tough to fit into anything after being asleep for a long time.

Free: Yeah. Last time I was still awake was when Ford Cortina were still common. Now it’s just a collector’s rare item.

Brimstone: We’ll meet up in 20.

Free: Okay, commander. And thank you for recruiting me.

Brimstone: No need to thank me, kid.

Free: Kid? I’m probably older than you.

《🛡️》

[Lounging Area]

Phoenix: Free! Take me your shield!

Free: Uh sure? *Throws their shield at Phoenix*

Phoenix: Oh god! *Disperse into flames and forms back*

Free: Oh no! Sorry, Phoenix. I’m still getting used to my abilities.

《🛡️》

[Agent Free meeting Agent Arachnis for the first time]

Arachnis: *Walking on the ceiling* Oh what’s up? You’re the new agent?

Free: *Spooked by them* Oh! Hi! Yeah, I am. I’m [Y/N] [L/N] or by my call name, Agent Free.

Arachnis: Free…I’m Arachnis. Say, are you from New York by any chance?

Free: Ah, Brooklyn.

Arachnis: Queens! We should hang out sometime back in New York. You know, if we don’t have upcoming missions.

Free: Yeah. That sounds fun. It’s been a long time since I seen New York.

《🛡️》

Neon: Free, could you open this inconveniently glued-shut jar of pickles?

Free: Why was it glued shut in the first time? *Takes the jar*

Neon: *Eagerly watched them*

Free: *Easily opens the jar* Who put you up to this?

Neon: It was Jett!

Jett: Snitch!

[Reblogs helps creators and creates for more content]

[Tagged]: @hhurric4ne @luckyowl @l0serloki @theladyheroine

[halohalona]

ok so like– hear me out

😳

✋✋

this man^^^

and this man^^^

that's it, take it as you will

[smashpages]

Courtesy of Archie Comics, here's a preview of World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #132, which comes out Aug. 9.

In one of two new stories, writer Tom DeFalco, artist Bill Galvan and inker Jim Amash present a Little Archie story featuring Captain Valor. Our hero is teaching Archie self-defense just in time for a confrontation with the bully Fangs Fogarty.

[strafethesesinners]

What Would your OC’s role on a pirate ship be?

Pirate AU let’s gooooooo

tagged by @trench-rot and @direwombat to take this quiz

The Boatswain A captain leads their crew. The first mate advises. But you're the one who actually makes things happen on this ship. When the captain gives an order to sail to some place, it's you who gives the crew their duties, to hoist or change or unfurl the sails, to man the guns, to swab the deck, to do whatever needs to be done. And you're right there alongside them, heaving and hauling and fighting just the same. The sailors put their trust in you, and you won't let them down. When they have a problem, you're the first port of call. The captain listens to you, even if you can tell she's not always paying attention. You spend your days before the mast, and your nights in a hammock slung up in the cargo hold. It's often a thankless job - the captain berates you if the crew are unruly, and the crew hate whenever you have to dole out discipline. But if you left, this ship would fall to pieces in an instant. And you love her. You love the sea. You love the job, despite it all. So you work, and you work, and you work, and you don't stop. Not until the job is done. And it's never going to be done.

The Topman Of all the sailors on this ship, your job is the most dangerous. Oh, everyone climbs the rigging into the topsails from now and then, but you practically live up there, among the rope and swaying canvas. You know the sails better than any person, have clung to the mast through storm and swell in the pitch-black of night, when your limbs are freezing from the chill and your body is soaked to the bone. When there's work to be done in the tops, you're the first to climb to their dizzying heights and the last to lower yourself back to the deck. Some nights you have slept up there, balancing on a yardarm or in the crow's nest, lashed to the rigging ten feet above the deck. But never once have you fallen. Though your hands and feet and calloused and burned from clasping the ropes, never have you pitched into the water or slammed against the deck. Few sailors can claim such a badge of honour as that. When you're up there, the wind blowing a chill against your face, hair streaming behind you and clothes billowing, you feel more alive than you ever have. So when your captain calls, you are glad to place your hands and feet in the rigging and ascend once more. It's where you belong.

The Captain This is your ship. Oh, but you worked for it. You joined your first pirate crew when you were little older than a child, learning the language of rope and rigging and the roll and sway of the sea. From there, you worked your way up, signing onto ship after ship, tailing sailors twice your age just to learn from example how a ship is run. And learn you did. By the time you turned twenty, there wasn't a shipboard task you couldn't perform. Then, one day, you had signed onto a ship under a notoriously bad captain - quick with the lash and slow with the shares. With the rest of the crew, you plotted and planned, and when the time came, you forced the captain and his officers onto an abandoned rock in the ocean, and took command yourself. Drunk on victory and rum, you promised your crew that you would be a fair captain, a shrewd captain, and make them all rich. Every day your head buzzes with plans and schemes, prizes more ambitious than the last. Yes, every pirate's luck runs dry eventually, but they haven't caught you yet, and you're proud of that fact. So you'll raid, and you'll fight, and you'll keep shipping out. These are your seas. And you'll hold them until your body rots in the deep.

tagging @deputyash @unleashed111​ @nightwingshero​ @shallow-gravy​ @derelictheretic​ @blissfulalchemist​ @gxmergurl​ @nuclearstorms​ @a-far-cry-from-my-main​ @adelaidedrubman​ @henbased​ @florbelles​ @roofgeese​ @fourlittleseedlings​ @g0dspeeed​ and whoever else wants to! sorry for multiple tags

[reasonmustbemytruenorth]

Who’s gonna tell Pike they named a medal of valor after him?

[marislittleworld]

I would like thanks my sis @mathyna for helping me with the men’s faces, you are the best ❤️💕

Here are the captains and the sargents, Brimstone and Price with Sova and Gaz

[kovacs-of-courage]

Cor Unum Ch-1

This is chapter 1 of a compilation of oneshots on A03, if you like this--go check the rest of it out! It's called Cor Unum and is listed on my A03 works

----------------

“There’s too many of them, they’re going to catch up with us soon.”

Wild rasped through bloodied breath, and shredded pleura. Breathing was torture, a hundred knives sawing his throat up from his chest. He’d been hit by an arrow, a lucky shot by a now-dead bokoblin that’d collided directly into his ribs, and then lung.

“I can stay behind--buy time.”

It was easy, almost compulsory for him to offer his own life for those of others. Wild knew that all of his brothers would do the same for him. It might be fate that begets these circumstances upon him again and again, or his stubborn refusal to accept his own limitations.

A short, tired laugh greeted his offer. More of a humorous exhale than anything. Neither of them had the energy to do much more than survive at the current moment.

“I’m glad to see you still have faith in my abilities. What kind of knight would I be if I left my men behind?”

Valor continued in step, unflattered by the suggestion, as he was by the distant hollers and heavy footfalls of the monsters behind them--always coming ever closer. The captain had Wild’s right arm curled around his neck and shoulders, keeping hold of his hand as they limped through the forest.

Wild opened his mouth to counter, and was interrupted by the ignition of fire and charred splinters that’d marked a tree beside them. A fire arrow from the oncoming band of monsters managed to find their position. He could recognize the heat, and the swallowing boom of its shockwave anywhere. He wasn’t happy to be on the other end of it, though.

The blast sent them reeling to the ground, their tunics stained with a charming mixture of dirt and blood. Wild tried getting up, to middling success. He was on the last legs of his energy, and having to balance that with one working lung wasn’t making that easier. 

He fell to the ground again, another maelstrom of flaming bark whipping over their heads. 

They were getting closer.

Wild reached for his bow, determined, and ready to sacrifice everything for the survival of his brother. A hero was only as good as the odds against them.

Valor had a different idea, however, lifting the younger hero’s body onto his shoulders, and around his head. He grunted at the effort, the battle, and the near-direct impact of the fire arrows had taken something out of the man.

“Don’t waste your breath, goddess knows you don’t have much of it.” Valor panted.

Valor eyed the coming mob of monsters, putting his freehand to his belt.

“When our comrades stumble, and fall, we carry them until they are strong again.”

A volley of arrows soared by their heads, narrowly missing them. 

Valor didn’t falter.

“That’s how it is.”

The monsters were close, nearly on their necks.

Valor readied himself.

“And that’s how it’ll always be.”